Hamilton could miss Monaco (Update)
An Italian newspaper had suggested that Pascal Wehrlein may only have tested in Barcelona last week due to world champion Hamilton's involvement in a mysterious nightclub incident in Cannes that could now see him sidelined.
But Hamilton has been posting photos of himself training in the Monaco hills, while the German team on Monday released its official race preview featuring quotes by the 31-year-old.
Asked on Twitter to respond specifically to the rumors, meanwhile, Mercedes said: "Sometimes, a rumor is so silly it doesn't merit a response."
And a team spokesman told the Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure: "Lewis is with his engineers today, preparing for the grand prix.
"He was with Petronas on Friday for a sponsor day. This rumor is such rubbish that it deserves no response from us," he added.
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| Did Mercedes bench Hamilton for what he did in Spain? |
05/23/16 (GMM) The next wild rumor is now firing in formula one, ahead of the championship's 'jewel in the crown' event in Monaco this weekend.
Corriere dello Sport, an Italian newspaper, reports that a mysterious incident involving Lewis Hamilton's attendance at red carpet events in Cannes last week could mean the world champion sits out Monaco this weekend.
The story could tie in with Pascal Wehrlein's last-minute test in the Mercedes last Wednesday in Barcelona.
"Yes, I would be ready," Wehrlein told Sky Italia after testing on Wednesday, when asked if he feels ready for a race seat at the silver works team.
The young German admitted the call-up took him by surprise, as he received the phone call at 8pm on Tuesday evening and only had his Manor-branded helmet with him.
Corriere dello Sport did not have any details of the apparent Cannes nightclub incident except to say that it might involve "stolen photographs".
Autosprint, an Italian specialist publication, said the incident reportedly happened at Cannes' Gotha Club.
The reports also said Mercedes officials were already not happy with Hamilton, who had been asked to test in Barcelona but refused.
F1 legend Alain Prost, meanwhile, played down the crash between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Barcelona, although some drew parallels with his own legendary run-ins with Ayrton Senna.
"These things happen in racing and you have to accept that," Prost told Germany's Auto Bild.
"Of course if it happened every weekend, that would no longer be acceptable."